Hygienic status of feedstuffs for pet birds

Feedstuffs for pet birds should not only be assessed by their chemical comp osition, but also by the hygienic status. On the occasion the pet owner has different opportunities to detect hygienic lacks. Either opening a new pac ket differences are recognized between actual and earlier rank or the new r ank leads to problems (i.e. a reduced feed intake). This situation requires a quick reaction (complaint of the bought feedstuff) and so the feed shoul d be assessed by the owner or veterinarian at the face or send to a special ized laboratory. In general a possible spoilage leads to different changes of the concerned feedstuffs, that should be offered restricted (i.e. feeding as soon as poss ible) or not at all (due to detrimental effects on health or performance of the birds). The hygiene quality of feedstuffs is characterized by load microorganisms ( bacteria, moulds, yeasts), contamination by toxins (formed by moulds and ba cteria) and pests (insects, mites).